Has Dan Uggla played his last game for the Florida Marlins?

If Dan Uggla has played his last game for the Marlins, he went out a winner. He hit his 33rd homer and went 3-for-3 in Florida’s 5-2 win over the Pirates on the last game of the season Oct. 3.

For most of his five years with the Marlins, Uggla has been the topic of trade rumors every winter. He always returned to Jupiter every February. But so far, this off-season feels different.

There’s a mutual bitterness between the Marlins and Uggla over stalled contract talks and one has to wonder if it’s bad enough for the Marlins to give more thought than ever to Life without Dan Uggla.
We’ll know more this week at the General Managers’ Meetings, which start Tuesday at Lake Buena Vista.

One thing I know for certain: The Marlins have not had any serious discussions about what to do at second base if Uggla is traded. So, there’s a chance the Marlins are doing what they’ve done in the past — listen to what they might get for their Silver Slugger Award winner.

I also know that owner Jeffrey Loria was very angry over Uggla’s rejection — reported last week — of a four-year, $48 million deal.

Uggla wants five years. I don’t fault the Marlins for standing firm at four years, even if he is the franchise’s all time home run leader. One school of thought by some in the organization that is that the Marlins throw a few more million at their four-year offer and Uggla accepts.

Me? I thought for sure Uggla was a goner last winter. But, then again, the circumstances this off-season — i.e. the bitter negotiations — are different.

Uggla was the team’s most productive offensive player last year. He also led the team with 18 errors.

His departure also would eliminate clubhouse tension with Hanley Ramirez — the All Star shortstop hasn’t always gotten along with his double-play partner. And it would open the door for Mike Stanton — second on the team with 22 homers, in just 100 games — to assume his destined role as the Marlins’ main power source.

But the Marlins are a young team, and Uggla isn’t the only one in the clubhouse who won’t get a Christmas card from Ramirez. Uggla is well-liked and a key piece of the Marlins’ clubhouse chemistry. (So was Cody Ross…)

So, a big question the Marlins must ask themselves — as they enter their final season at Sun Life with a goal moving into their new ballpark as a championship-caliber team in 2012 is — are the a better team without Dan Uggla.